Bottle



Nov. 9, 1937.

F. c. GURLEY BOTTLE Filed Aug. 21, 1936 I INVEN OR Jada; ATTORNEYS Patented Nov.- 9, 1937 UNITED STATES accuses PATENT OFFICE some Franklin 0. Gurley, Hamburg, N. Y. Application August 21, 1936, Serial No. 91,242 0 Claims. (01.215-1) This invention relates to a new article of commerce and the packaging and display thereof.

More particularly the invention has to do with hollow objects formed of materials of such character that the objects may be flush molded or cast, and which may be used as a receptacle, container or package for various substances, and particularly useful as a container for loose, edible or soluble substances, or small edible objects such asnuts or candies of a more or less perishable character some of which deteriorate in the presence of air, moisture or light.

Some loose substances that might be mentioned, such as crystals, granules or powders intended to be dissolved inwater for the production of sundry drinks or beverages, also gelatin powders and the like, are often packaged. and dispensed in wax paper or other similar bags or in boxes or envelopes. Such forms of packing, however, have limited uses and are objectionable since the contents are subject to the deteriorating action of light, air and moisture. Also when such containers are used, the bags, boxes or envelopes, when once opened, cannot again be-properly sealed or closed to prevent spoilage or waste of the. contents, which is a great disadvantage 5 when it is desired to use only a. portion of the contents at one time.

Then, too, when such substances or articles are so packaged, it is usually necessary to keep the packages covered against light action, with the "a result that they cannot be effectively displayed to the public, and even when displayed, such packages do not lend themselves to that desirable and attractive or effective display which is a very important consideration when it is desired to induce the public to buy.

Some objects of the invention, therefore, are to produce as a new and improvedarticle of commerce a hollow molded or cast object of the character mentioned, in which various edible or soluble substances or other articles may be introduced, and in which substances or articles will be adequately protected for indefinite periods against the deleterious effects of air, moisture and light; also to provide an article of this sort which is'so constructed that the contents thereof may be dispensed therefrom in portions from time to time as required for.use, and in which the remaining contents will be as well confined within the container and as adequately protected against waste or spoilage, as when the object or package was originally packed or sold to a consumer; also to produce a new article of commerce, a hollow molded object formed of -more or less frangible material which may be made to simulate in form, color and texture a natural object such as a fruit or a nut and which is indicative by its form and color of the nature of the contents of that object; and also to provide such an article with a suitable element cooperating therewith which may, if desired, simullate foliage clustering about the object to render the same more attractive as an article of merchandise; and also to provide such an element with indicia, formulae or instructions for the use of the contents and meansfor insuring its delivery with an object or article when sold and its retention on the article. thereafter.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved container for storing and dispensing various substances, which,will be exceptionally inexpensive, which may be made of normally frangible materials such as moldable wax, and which may be shipped and handled with a minimum of loss by breakage or injuries from external forces.

Other objects are to provide a package, box or container for a plurality of my new articles or objects which cooperates therewith to protect the articles in shipment, to maintain them in a predetermined order or arrangement during shipment and subsequent display of the articles for sale; and also to provide such article with an attached sheet or element which not only cooperates with the bpx or container to assist in maintaining the objects in position in the box or container, but which also enables the articles to be displayed in the box or container in such a way that such sheet or element actually assumes the appearance of or becomes an essential part of the object as a whole; which enhances the appearance of the objects displayed in the box or container and thereby attracts the intended purchaser and improves the sales value of the objects.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the follo ing disclosures of an embodiment of the invention and its novel features will be pointed out in connection with the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view, partly in section of a box or container in which is displayed a plurality of my improved articles of commerce.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section of a portion of one of the articles, showing the closure means therefor and the means for securing thereto a flexible sh'eet.

Fig. 3 is a transverse; vertical section on line 3- 3, Fig. 4, of one of the articles, in a. compartment of a box or container.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of one of the articles and the adjacent parts of the box or container therefor.

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section, on line 5--5,

slan s.

Fig. 'l is a screw cap or closure for the protruding neck of the object.

Fig. 8 is a sheet or element, detached, which is engageable about the neck of the object or article.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing my new article of commerce is shown in such form as to simulate certain citrus fruits or objects, as oranges or lemons, but it should be here understood that the articles may, within the broadest interpretation of the invention, take or assume the appearance of a wide variety of articles including different fruits, nuts or any other objects or commodities. The articles representing oranges are designated A, while those simulating lemons are indicated at B. Except as to the form taken or the particular object simulated, all the objects or articles are of exactly the same construction.

Each of my improved articles of commerce includes a hollow body or portion In formed of a substantial wall l2, and an integral hollow or substantially cylindrical neck ll protruding from the side of the body l0 and affording access to the interior thereof.

The body 10 and neck II are formed, preferably in a single casting, and I normally prefer to use for this purpose suitably colored moldable wax of the type suitable for flush molding and the objects are preferably made by the flushmolding process which is well known in the art, and needs no detailed description. By molding the objects or articles from' wax in this way, they may, when desired, be produced in the exact color and texture of a simulated object and appear very realistic.

To further add to the realistic effect of fruits I preferably mold or form them with portions l4 and I5 representing the stem end and the blossom or blow" end, as shown.

Any suitable substances or materials may. of

course, be placed in the hollow bodies of the articles, but I preferably introduce materials or substances in some way relating to, or to which the appearance of the bodies of the articles themselves suggest a relationship. For example, I may place in the simulated oranges, crystals, granules or powders which are flavored and colored to produce when dissolved in water, a soft drink or beverage, such as orangeade, or I may introduce into the orange, gelatin or similar powders or substances of orange flavor. Material of this sort is indicated at l6, Fig. 3.

Thus, by introducing appropriate materials or substances into the properly related article or hollow body, a purchaser may select a variety of the articles in accordance with their exterior appearance with the assurance that the desired flavors or the otherwise appropriate substances or articles are contained therein, and thereafter material of any desired flavor or for any other desired use may be obtained by selecting the article which represents the fruit or other natural object,.the particular flavor or contents of which is at that time desired.

The articles of lemon formation will likewise contain a material or substance of lemon flavor for the same use.

Such materials can, of course, vary in their nature, but for the production of orangeade, lemonade, etc., natural fruit crystals such-as citric acid with the addition of oil of orange or lemon, as the case may be, and coloring matter, may be used.

Small candies or the like of appropriate flavors, may also be placed in the hollow bodies of the articles. Likewise, the articles may be made in simulation of peanuts, and peanuts introduced within them. The articles may be produced in many other forms, in each case suitable related substances, materials or small objects being preferably introduced. i

In order to enable the contents of the articles to be used and apportioned several times, if desired, I preferably form or cast upon the outer side of the protruding neck II a screw thread l8 and, cooperating therewith is a suitable screw threaded cap or closure device ill, see Figs. 2, 6, and 7, which is screwed down over the exterior of the neck for substantially its full length, so that the cap or closure will protect the entire neck and its threads against injury from external forces.

Obviously, an integral plug or seal in the neck I! would prevent the proper sealing of the container after once beingopened. Also a plug or cork could not be successfully used for closing the neck, since the fragile nature of the wax or other similar substance would not form a neck of suflicient strength to withstand tensile forces or the forcing in of a cork or plug Thus, the provision of the threaded neck and its accompanying screw cap is very desirable, and enables=- the contents of the articles to be portioned out as desired, and the article again closed up. So far as I am aware, I am the first to provide hollow objects of wax or the like with a protruding, integral, externally threaded neck, and a screw cap screwed down over and encasing the neck for substantially its entire length to protect it.

In order to further enhance the appearance of my new articles and render them more attractive as an article of merchandise, particularly when they are made to simulate fruits, I may provide a sheet of paper or other flexible member '20. which is intended to be applied to and be delivered with the article when sold. For this purpose I form, preferably in the center thereof a hole or perforation 2| of a diameter such as to flt about the neck II of the article. The sheet 20 is applied by passing the neck ll of the article through said perforation 2| before the screw cap I9 is applied. By then screwing the cap i9 into closing position about the neck H, the sheet 20 may be clamped and retained between the edge of the cap and the adjacent portion of the body, as shown clearly in Figs 2 and 5. By using sheets 20 of green or other appropriate color and crumpling each sheet somewhat about its associated hollow body ill, a very realistic simulation of a fruit nestling in a cluster of leaves or foliage is produced. The sheets 20 may also, if desired, bear or be provided with suitable indicia or printed instructions, referring to the use of the contents of the articles, with the assurance that the directions will be delivered with the articles and be present when needed, since the sheets are secured to the articles themselves by the screw placed upon a surface with the cap or end of the neck, and the adjacent part of the body III in engagement therewith, the article will be so. displayed that the opposite end (the stem end M in the case of the orange) will be at the top where it can be seen, and whereby the utmost realistic eflect produced.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials and arrangements of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. As an article of commerce, a hollow wax object having a body portion in the form of a natural object such as a fruit and having an integral, tubular, externally threaded neck of the same material protruding from said body portion and affording access to the interior of said object for the introduction thereinto of loose material or small articles. a screw cap screwed over said neck and encasing and protecting it and its threads for approximately the full length of the neck to confine the contents within said hollow object but removable to enable portions of said contents to be dispensed, and a flexible sheet of material of approximately foliage color and having a perforation therein which substantially fits the neck of said object and through which the same may be passed before said screw cap is secured in place, whereby said sheet may be con-' fined between said screw cap and the body of said object.

2. As an article of commerce, a hollow object of colored wax which will not pass actinic light to any substantial extent and simulating a natural fruit such as an orange or the like and having the color and texture of said fruit with a blow end and a'stem end, said object having a body portion with an integral, hollow, externally threaded, protruding neck of the same material at a point spaced a substantial distance from said blow and stem ends, but less than a half circumference therefrom, which affords access to the interior of said body for the introduction thereinto of loose edible or soluble material having the flavor of the particular fruit represented by said object, a removable screw cap closure device of strong, hard material screwed over the outside of said neck for the major portion of the length of the neck to close the open end thereof and thereby seal said object and protect the contents from the action of the air and of moisture, said object and neck having a wallet substantial thickness which together with the non-actinic color thereof also acts to protect the contents against the deteriorating action of light.

3. An improved article of manufacture comprising a hollow object of moldable wax and simulating a natural object, such as a citrus fruit, and having the shape, color and texture of said fruit with a blow end and a stem end, said object having a body portion with an integral, hollow, protruding neck of the same material which affords access to the interior of said body for the introduction thereto or the removal therefrom of loose edible and soluble dry materials having the flavor of the particular fruit represented by said object, said neck being externally threaded and disposed between said stem and blow ends and at a substantial distance from both, and a removable cap or strong, hard material detachably screwed over and encasing and protecting said neck for approximately the full prising a. hollow object of moldable wax and simulating a natural object, such as a fruit, and having the shape, color and texture of said fruit with a blow end and a stem end, said object having a. body portion with an integral, hollow;

protruding, externally threaded neck of the same material which affords access to the interior of said body for the introduction thereto or the removal therefrom of loose edible and soluble dry materials having the flavor of the particular fruit represented by said object, said neck being disposed between said stem and'blow ends and at a substantial distance from both, a removable cap of strong, hard material detachably screwed over and encasing and protecting said neck for substantially the full length of the neck to close the open end thereof and thereby close said object and protect the contents thereof from the action of air, sunlight and moisture, and a sheet of flexible material such as paper or the like, of a green color of approximately the shade of green foliage, bearing printed instructions for the use of the contents of the object, and having an aperture through which said neck passes and upon which it is removably secured by said cap, thereby pro ducing the effect of a fruit nestling in a cluster of its foliage with the paper concealing said neck and cap with said blow or stem end upwardly f acing.

filling and emptying thechamber in said body portion, the exterior of said neck being threaded from its free end, and a removable \closure cap with internal screw threads screwed over the outside of said neck and encasing the exterior of said neck from its free open end approximately to said body portion, protecting substantially the entire neck and its screw threads from external injury in handling, and closing the open end of said neck, but removable from said neck by unscrewing to enable access to be had to the interior of said body portion.

6. An improved container comprising a hollow body portion formed entirely of moldable wax with a tubular neck of the same material, projecting from said body portion, formed in-'- tegrally therewith, and providing a passage for filling and emptying the chamber in said body portion, the exterior of said neck being threaded from its free end, and a removable closure cap of strong, hard material with internal screw threads screwed over the outside of said neck and encasing the exterior of said neck from its free open end approximately to said body portion, protecting substantially the entire neck and its screw threads from external injury in handling, and closing the open end of said neck, but removable from said neck by unscrewing to enable access to be had to the interior of said body portion. FRANKLIN C. GURLEY. 

